Four generations of the same family have held a very special party in Wimbledon to celebrate the birthday of 100-year-old Joan Kite.
Mrs Kite, who celebrated her centenary on Friday, December 2, was also joined by Wimbledon MP Stephen Hammond and the First Wimbledon Park Rainbow Guides at her retirement home in Kathleen Godfrey Court in Queens Road, Wimbledon.
Stephen Hammond MP brought Mrs Kite chocolates from the House of Commons
Her granddaughter Jo Hardman, who runs the Rainbow group, said: “The girls made her a card and they sang a few songs, and they helped to hand around the cake.
“She’s frail but her mind is all there. She loved the party. At the end of the day we were all exhausted, but she was still raring to go.
The First Wimbledon Park Rainbow Guides put on a special birthday show
“She reads the papers every day because she wants to keep up to date with what’s going on in the world. She’s the wisest one in the family, and we all come to her for advice.”
Mrs Kite lived in Northcote Road, Clapham, with her husband Peter for most of her married life, apart from a few years in the 1950’s when the couple moved to Canada, where Mr Kite helped to set up the Canadian branch of Penguin Books.
The cake
Mrs Kite moved into Kathleen Godfrey Court 22 years ago, after Mr Kite passed away. She was joined there by her family for her 100th birthday celebration, including her daughter, three grandchildren and seven great grandchildren.
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